Family Woodland Shoot

Last October I had the pleasure of meeting Louise and Danny and their daughters Phoebe and Mabel for a shoot in Hardcastle Crags.  The weather was touch and go to say the least but we just managed to dodge the West Yorkshire rain!  We have stayed in touch and last year we talked about a family shoot in the spring bluebells.  We got together a month ago for their second family shoot, the sun was shining and there were ice creams at the end!  Here are a few shots from the day.

Gibson Mill Vintage Wedding Shoot

I recently had a meeting with the super people down at Gibson Mill about photographs for their new wedding brochure.  Set in the ancient woodland of Hardcastle Crags, it is one of my favourite spots for a walk.  The Mill is a totally self sustaining building and is a stunning location for photographs in all seasons!  In spring the woodland by the Mill is covered in bluebells and I did a number of family portraits this year amongst the flowers with the dappled sunlight breaking through the trees.

I decided to give the wedding shoot a vintage feel as it seemed to fit with the location and the history of the building.  When the Mill was used as an entertainment emporium in the early 20th century, the middle floor was used as a Dance Hall and the top floor, known as the Lord Holme Restaurant, was a first class dining area.  People from far and wide would come to Hardcastle Crags for high tea and a dance!

A very big thank you to Lucy Conroy from Lucy and the Caterpillar and Nathan Baker from Style Service.  They looked fantastic!  Lucy is playing on Sunday 10th July at Hole in t'Wall as part of this year's Hebden Bridge Arts Festival.  Click on the link for more information.

If anyone is interested in a ceremony at Gibson Mill, please contact them on 01422 841 021.

Happy Birthday Hebden Bridge Arts Festival!

As I'm writing this it's bucketing outside and I've just lit the fire, welcome to June!  June already!  And that can mean only one thing, the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival is just around the corner...

2011 sees the HBAF coming of age and it's the 18th consecutive year it has been held.  To celebrate this landmark, special events exploring rites of passage have been programmed.  This year, I am the official Festival photographer.  I'll be documenting behind the scenes preparations, street entertainment, music, exhibitions, the Hebden Shorts, comedy performances and much, much more - always wanted to say that!

For more information go to www.hbaf.co.uk, for regular updates - www.facebook.com/hbartsfestival and for twitterings @hbaf.

Here are just a few photos I took at last year's Festival including  a couple of pictures of Martin Parr which has to be one of the scariest moments of my photographic career so far.  He's a very tall man...

Anyway, here's to a great Festival and Happy Birthday!!

The Festival Office in full swing:

 Hebden Shorts

Martin Parr at The Picture House

Hebden Hop

 

Rich Hall at The Picture House

 

Kissmet at The Trades Club

Alison Weir & Suzannah Dunn

Millegro at Wainsgate Chapel 

Tom Wrigglesworth at The Picture House

Rodina at The Hole in t'Wall

Last Night!